22 February,2026 09:26 AM IST | Adelaide | PTI
India players celebrate the wicket of Australia’s Ellyse Perry in Adelaide on Saturday
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said the bold approach of Jemimah Rodrigues helped her find the perfect rhythm after a tepid beginning to the innings, which played a defining role in her side's thrilling 17-run victory over Australia in the third and final T20I here on Saturday.
Mandhana smashed 82 off 55 balls (8x4, 3x6), while Jemimah Rodrigues struck 59 off 46 deliveries as the two senior batters stitched a commanding 121-run stand to propel India to 176 for six after electing to bat.
India's bowlers then seized control as young spinner Shreyanka Patil (3-22) and pace spearhead Renuka Singh (1-29) ripped through the top order to leave Australia reeling at 32 for 3. The early strikes set the tone for a dominant display as India eventually restricted hosts to 159 for 9. Young left-arm spinner Shree Charani (3-32) underlined her credentials as well.
"When she [Jemimah] came in, I think I was 16-ball 15 [runs] and still getting my timing and she came in, got three or four boundaries, got the momentum going and I could take some time," Mandhana said in the post-match presentation.
"Those small things don't really get noticed, but I feel when she [Jemimah] came in and got those quick 2-3 boundaries, it calmed me down as well. So, credit to her for coming in and playing that sort of a knock," said Mandhana about her innings, which helped India win its first T20I series Down Under after 2016.
Mandhana said that beating Australia was a remarkable achievement but added that the team's focus now shifts to their next challenge, the three-match ODI series starting in Brisbane on Tuesday. "It was good to contribute to the series win. Beating Australia in Australia is something really special. I'm really happy for the team and glad that I could contribute. Jemi coming in and making me run all those twos, but yeah, it's a really good partnership between Jemi and me.
"We did beat them in 2016 when we had come here, but I think we've played T20 after a very long time in Australia, so beating them is really nice, but we will move on to the ODI series and not celebrate too much," added Mandhana.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur praised Mandhana and Jemimah. "It [win] means a lot, it's a complete team effort. So really good to see that everybody's coming up and contributing. Every partnership was very important. That's what we discussed in the team meetings, that we have to keep taking the responsibility. They both played a very big role," she said.
2016
The last time India defeated Aus women in a series Down Under - in T20Is by a 2-1 margin
9
No of years since Australia women lost a white-ball series at home
8
No of 50-plus scores for Smriti Mandhana vs Australia in WT20Is - the most by any player
121
No of runs scored during Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues's partnership vs Australia - India's highest ever for the second wicket in WT20Is
2500
No of WT20I runs completed by Jemimah Rodrigues during her 59 against Australia on Saturday - only the third Indian to do so after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur
350
No of international games played by Ellyse Perry - the first Australian women's cricketer to do so
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